Over 40 councils, energy providers, road authorities, contractors and designers from across Australia gathered in Melbourne last week at the Australian Smart Lighting Summit to discuss strategies and new technology for public lighting retrofits aimed at reducing energy consumption and costs. [ + ]

Minister for Education Christopher Pyne last week announced 16 new Australian Laureate Fellowships. The scheme provides funding for projects by world-class researchers, including Scientia Professors Rose Amal and Veena Sahajwalla from UNSW. [ + ]

Research from the University of Alicante, Spain, has confirmed that most of the waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is not treated properly - and that the uncontrolled burning of such products produces brominated pollutants which have carcinogenic effects. [ + ]

Silex Systems has announced that plans for the Mildura Power Station Project, located in Carwarp in Victoria, have been suspended. The decision was based on factors including low wholesale electricity prices and the uncertainty surrounding the Renewable Energy Target. [ + ]

Researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) have successfully replicated one of the crucial steps in photosynthesis, opening the way for biological systems powered by sunlight which could manufacture hydrogen as a fuel. [ + ]

Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a system which recycles materials from discarded car batteries into long-lasting perovskite solar panels, thus solving several environmental issues at once. [ + ]

Olympus Australia has established a long-term commitment to food charity OzHarvest. The charity was one of two selected by Olympus staff members to be supported by the company. [ + ]

The Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) has awarded Tenix an 'Excellent' rating level for both Design and As Built phases for two sewage treatment plants (STPs) at Cannonvale and Proserpine in North Queensland. [ + ]

Water treatment company Degrémont Australia has signed a contract with the Power and Water Corporation to design and construct upgrades to the Adelaide River Water Treatment Plant (WTP) for the production of drinking water. [ + ]

Australia has its first dedicated media channel for the booming field service sector, with the launch of Field Service Business, a sister publication to Sustainability Matters. [ + ]

Australian cities can leverage Internet of Things (IoT) technology to help modernise critical infrastructure such as intelligent and adaptive street lighting. [ + ]

Fuji Xerox Australia's Supplies Division was last month recognised at the Australian Packaging Covenant (APC) Awards for its commitment to packaging product stewardship. The division received the Australian Packaging Covenant High Performers Award for the highest annual reporting score in the Small-Medium Communications and Electronics category. [ + ]

Enphase Energy has partnered with YHI (New Zealand) to distribute its microinverter-based solar photovoltaic (PV) system to the New Zealand solar installer community. YHI will ship Enphase's products from six warehouses throughout New Zealand, meaning the company's products are now shipping in 12 countries. [ + ]

Joint venture developers of the $2 billion Central Park mixed-use precinct, Frasers Property and Sekisui House, yesterday morning (14 August) provided a construction tour of the water recycling facility while the plant is undergoing commissioning before becoming operational early next year. [ + ]

Steve Atherton has been appointed chief executive officer at biotechnology company BioGill. The company was established to commercialise BioGill wastewater treatment technology, developed in ANSTO research laboratories. [ + ]